The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-04-09

The Nations Wit and Humorist Vic
tim Of Melancholy.
From sunshine 20 shadow.


John Godfrey SAKE, the poet, died AT
the residence of his SON, Charles SAKE in
Albany, n. ~, on the 3lst OF March. lie
was born in Highgate, Franklin county.
W., June ?, 1916. lie graduated at Mid
dlebnry College in 1889, was admitted to
the bar at 81. Adams in 1913, and prac-
ticcd in his native county until March,
1850. From 1850 to 1885, he was editor
and proprietor OF the Burlingt ton Sentinel,
and in 1866 was states attorney.
lie was the nations wit aud humorist,
whose delicious rhymes brought To him
self fame and competence, and To many
n household the cheerful smile or hearty
laugh. Even across the sea he was known as
".he Thomas Hood of America. For some
years he had been dead 10 all the world.
Few people knew that he was yet alive.
The victim OF deep seated, ever present
melancholy, his closing years were touch
ingly sad and uneventful, the never ceasing
care of the few relatives that were spared
him even failing TO rid him OF the deep
gloom in which unhappily his mind was
shrouded Up 90 the year 1875, John q.
Suxe was Il splendid and conspicuous speci-
two inches tall, proudly erect and mus
cular, with a large, round. and finely
poised head set upon broad and stalwart
shoulders.
The beginning OF the end was the poets
dreadful experience and remarkable es-
cape from revolving death in Western
railway disaster in the spring OF 1875,
while on his return 90 Brooklyn from a
lecturinR tour in tho South. The sleeping
car In Which he had berth was thrown
down steep cmbankment, and he was
rescued therefrom 10y the merest chance.
As he lay stunned and bruised, wedged in be-
tween the broken timbers, a fellow
passenger who had escaped bethonght
him of sum OF money which
he had left behind him. On return
ing 20 the car he stumbled upon the insen-
sible poet. The latter was thereby dis
covered and rescued from what would
inevitably have been death and destruction
by fire, as the sleeper in which he was
found, after brief interval following his
rescue, became mass of seething flame.
His flesh was bruised, but no bones were
broken. O1twardly he appeared TO have
escaped With slight bodily injuries.
Up TO this time his popularity was fast
increasing. But from this accident his
nervous system received shock from
which he never recovered. And worst of
ALL his family consisting OF his wife, three
daughters and two sons. was broken up by
the death of mis- wife daughters and one
son. He then removed TO Albany where
he resided with his son till his death. Sor-
row and suffering did their work quickly.
From the gay and witty poet he became
the mournful and silent man. He stunned
the world completely. For years he had
seen no visitors. He rarely left his room,
but passed his time in solitude, apart even
from his own family, attended by a faith
full servant and enjoying all the comforts
that an affcctionate and indulgent son
could give. Sickness and grief bowed his
rugged frame. His brow was furrowed
with lines of age and his hair had grown
white. Although be had been failing
slowly in strength, the end came rather
suddenly.